The holidays are a crucial time for small businesses. In fact, according to the National Retail Federation, holiday retail sales in the United States totaled $717.45 billion in 2019, representing a significant increase from the $687.87 billion spent in 2018. With so much money up for grabs, it's no wonder that businesses of all sizes ramp up their marketing efforts during the holidays.
One of the best ways to market your business during the holidays is to launch a shop local campaign. A shop local campaign is an effort by businesses to encourage customers to buy gifts and goods from local merchants instead of from national chains or online retailers. Not only do shop local campaigns benefit the businesses involved, but they also strengthen the local economy and support the community. Here's everything you need to know about launching a successful shop local campaign this holiday season courtesy of the Phillips Area Chamber of Commerce.
How Shop Local Campaigns Benefit Businesses, the Economy, and the Community
Shop local campaigns benefit everyone involved—businesses, shoppers, and the community as a whole. Here's a closer look at how:
-Businesses benefit from increased foot traffic and sales, as well as improved brand awareness and loyalty.
-Shoppers benefit from convenience, personalized service, and unique gift options.
-The community benefits from a strengthened local economy, supporting local jobs and businesses.
How Your Business Can Give Back During the Holidays
In addition to supporting the community, businesses can also give back during the holidays by donating to charity or offering discounts to customers who donate food or toys to donation drives. This is a great way to show customers that you care about more than just making a profit; you're also committed to giving back and helping those in need.
How To Launch Your Own Holiday Shop Local Campaign
There are many different ways to launch a shop local campaign during the holidays. One option is for businesses to band together and promote one another through joint marketing efforts like co-branded ads or social media posts. Another option is for businesses to host events like holiday markets or open houses. And finally, businesses can offer incentives like discounts or freebies to customers who shop with them instead of with national chains or online retailers.
How Businesses Can Promote a Holiday Shop Local Campaign
There are many different ways for businesses to promote their shop local campaigns during the holidays. Some options include distributing flyers or postcards in the community, placing ads in local newspapers or magazines, partnering with other businesses for joint marketing efforts, or using social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to reach potential customers.
How Businesses Can Incentivize Shopping Locally
For a shop local campaign to be successful, businesses need to offer shoppers incentives to do their holiday shopping at locally-owned stores rather than at national chains or online retailers. Some possible incentives include discounts, freebies, loyalty programs, or exclusive access to special sales or events.
A useful way to help local shoppers is to create gift guides featuring your store’s products. A PDF is great for this because it’s ubiquitous and easy to share. If you want multiple guides, you can do a PDF split to separate them out, and then cater each part to specific audiences. Your customers will appreciate the thoughtfulness when buying their holiday gifts.
How Businesses Can Support One Another With Joint Marketing And Co-Hosted Events
One of the best ways for businesses to support one another during the holidays is through joint marketing efforts and co-hosted events. By working together, businesses can pool their resources and reach a larger number of potential customers. Some joint marketing ideas include co-branded ads, social media posts, flyers, or postcards. And as far as co-hosted events go, some possibilities include holiday markets, open houses, trunk shows, or pop-up shops.
Launching a shop local campaign is a great way to raise brand awareness, drive traffic and sales, and support the community. If you're thinking about starting a shop local campaign this holiday season, keep these tips in mind to make sure it's a success!
If you’re ready to grow your business with the help of great local resources and partnerships, join the Phillips Area Chamber of Commerce.
